U.S. flags from Appleton will wave at World Cup in Brazil

Jun. 18, 2014

Sommerville Flags and Flagpoles owner Matt Snodgrass and his grandfather, former owner Ed Sommerville, look over American flags Wednesday that are packed for shipment to the World Cup in Brazil. / Wm. Glasheen/Post-Crescent Media

Owner Matt Snodgrass said the order consisted of 50 5-by-8-foot flags and 50 6-by-10-foot flags and totaled about $6,000. He said shipping, tariffs and customs fees cost another $4,000.

Snodgrass said the customer found Sommerville Flag, a flag and flagpole retailer, online. He knows little about the customer, other than he’s from New York City and has paid for the order to be shipped to him in Brazil.

“He’s sort of mysterious,” Snodgrass said. “Either he’s giving them out or he’s selling them” at the World Cup.

Snodgrass said the flags were made in Milwaukee. “It’s nice to have America represented a little more (in Brazil),” he said. “It’s not going to hurt to have 100 more flags in the stands.”

Ed Sommerville, Snodgrass’ grandfather and former owner of the business, said he’s thrilled to have a little bit of home at the World Cup, which is broadcast around the globe.

“They will certainly be noticeable down there,” Sommerville said. “It will be interesting for people to see them and realize they came from Appleton.”